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Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki
Publish hipposcrocodiles rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki
 
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==Goal==
==Goal==


'''Hippos & Crocodiles''' is an abstract strategy game for 2 players designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. The goal is to place animal pieces onto the board. If you cannot place a piece on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to place a piece wins!
'''Hippos & Crocodiles''' is a 2-player spatial abstract strategy game designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. Players take turns placing polyomino animal pieces onto the grid. If you cannot place an animal on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to legally place a piece wins!


==Setup==
==Components==


* One player controls the '''Hippos''' (brown) and has 8 hippo pieces in reserve.
{| class="wikitable"
* The other player controls the '''Crocodiles''' (olive green) and has 8 crocodile pieces in reserve.
! Component !! Icon !! Description
* The game is played on one of four maps (table option '''Map'''; choose '''Random''' to have one of the four picked at random when the game starts):
|-
** '''Square''': 14×14 grid (196 squares), the default.
| '''Hippos''' || [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png|28px|middle]] || 8 hippo pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a 3×3 body plus 1 snout cell).
** '''Rectangle''': 20×10 grid (200 squares).
|-
** '''Lagoon''': a meandering lagoon, 19 rows of 11 squares each, drifting right, centre, left, centre and right again from top to bottom (209 squares).
| '''Crocodiles''' || [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png|28px|middle]] || 8 crocodile pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a central 6-square spine with 4 legs).
** '''Pool''': the round pool board, 16×16 grid with the corners cut off (208 squares).
|-
* Animals can only cover squares of the map: nothing may stick out over the green frame.
| '''Trunks''' || [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png|28px|middle]] || Optional 3×1 wooden log obstacles that block placement.
|-
| '''Maps''' || [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png|28px|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png|28px|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png|28px|middle]] [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png|28px|middle]] || 4 distinct aquatic terrains: Square (14×14, 196 squares), Rectangle (20×10, 200 squares), Lagoon (209 squares), and Pool (208 squares).
|}


==Animal distribution==
==Setup==


Table option '''Animal distribution''':
* One player plays the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_hippo.png|20px|middle]] '''Hippos''' (8 pieces); the other plays the [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_crocodile.png|20px|middle]] '''Crocodiles''' (8 pieces).
* '''Random''' (default): who plays the Hippos and who plays the Crocodiles is decided at random.
* The game takes place on the chosen map (Square [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_square.png|20px|middle]], Rectangle [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_rectangle.png|20px|middle]], Lagoon [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_lagoon.png|20px|middle]], or Pool [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_map_pool.png|20px|middle]]).
* '''First player plays Hippos''' / '''First player plays Crocodiles''': the player who starts gets that animal. When you start a rematch from the end of a game, BGA rotates the starting player, so the animals swap automatically (with '''Random''' the animals are drawn again).
* Pieces must fit entirely within the water area of the board and cannot overlap other pieces or trunks.
* '''Trunks (table option)''': If enabled, 4 trunks [[File:Hipposcrocodiles_trunk.png|20px|middle]] (3×1 squares) are placed before any animals are played (either placed alternately by players, 2 each, or placed randomly).


==Difficulty==
==Your turn==


Table option '''Difficulty''':
On your turn, place one of your remaining animal pieces onto the board:
* '''Easy''' (default): the cells where the centre of the animal can go are highlighted, and the status bar tells how many spots are possible in each direction (where the animal's head points) for all four rotations.
* '''Hard''': no highlights and no counts. Place the animal where you think it fits; a spot that does not fit is shown in red and cannot be confirmed. If you cannot find a place for your animal, press '''Surrender''' (red button, with a confirmation): you lose the game immediately. In Easy mode there is no Surrender button: the game ends by itself when you have no legal move.


==Trunks (optional)==
# '''Choose position''': Click any legal square on the board to preview your animal.
# '''Rotate orientation''': Turn your piece into any of the 4 cardinal directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) by clicking '''↻ Rotate''' in the status bar, pressing '''R''' (or '''Shift+R'''), or using keys '''W''', '''D''', '''S''', '''A'''.
# '''Confirm placement''': Click the blue '''Confirm''' button to lock in your move (or click red '''Cancel''' to clear your preview).


Trunks are brown rectangles of 3×1 squares that act as obstacles: no animal can be placed on top of them. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, must fit completely inside the map and cannot overlap another trunk. The more trunks, the shorter the game. Table option '''Trunks''':
===Difficulty options===
* '''Off''': no trunks (default).
* '''Easy (default)''': All valid placement squares are highlighted on the board for the current orientation.
* '''On - players place 2 each''': before the first animal, the players take turns placing trunks, the first player starting, until each has placed 2. Tap a square, tap the round rotate button (or press '''R''') to switch between horizontal and vertical, then '''Confirm'''.
* '''Hard''': No highlights are shown. If no legal placements remain, click the red '''Surrender''' button to concede.
* '''On - randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random before the game, never touching each other, so that both players can still move.


==Animals==
==End of the game==


Each animal occupies exactly 10 squares on the board:
* The game ends immediately when the active player cannot legally place any of their remaining animal pieces (or clicks '''Surrender''' in Hard mode).
* '''Hippo''': A 3×3 square body with a single protruding snout cell.
* That player loses (0 points), and the opponent wins (1 point).
* '''Crocodile''': A central spine of 6 squares with two pairs of legs extending out to width 3.
 
==Your turn==
 
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Action !! Description
|-
| 1 || '''Pick placement''' || Tap one of the highlighted squares on the board to preview your animal there. Animals can be placed in any of the 4 cardinal orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The marked circle is the pivot: it stays on the same square when you rotate.
|-
| 2 || '''Rotate''' || Tap the round rotate button next to the previewed animal, or tap the animal itself, to turn it a quarter turn clockwise. Orientations that do not fit are skipped in Easy mode. For a trunk, the same button switches between horizontal and vertical.
|-
| 3 || '''Confirm''' || Click '''Confirm''' to lock in your move, or '''Cancel''' to pick again. Animals cannot overlap each other or a trunk, or extend beyond the map.
|}


==Controls==
==Variants (table options)==


* '''Tap / click''' a highlighted square to preview your animal there.
* '''Map''' (Option 100):
* '''Rotate button''' (round grey button next to the previewed animal) or a tap on the previewed animal: turn it a quarter turn clockwise.
** '''Square (14×14)''' (default): 196 squares.
* '''R''' rotates clockwise, '''Shift+R''' rotates back (keyboard).
** '''Rectangle (20×10)''': 200 squares.
* '''W''', '''A''', '''S''', '''D''' point the animal's head up, left, down or right.
** '''Lagoon''': 209 squares.
* '''Confirm''' locks in the move, '''Cancel''' takes the preview back.
** '''Pool''': 208 squares.
* With a mouse, move the pointer over a highlighted square to see a transparent preview of your animal with its pivot on that square.
** '''Random''': randomly selects one of the four maps.
* '''Trunks''' (Option 101):
** '''Off''' (default): no trunks on the board.
** '''On – players place 2 each''': players take turns placing 2 trunks each before animals are placed.
** '''On – randomly placed''': 4 trunks are placed at random during setup.
* '''Animal distribution''' (Option 102):
** '''Random''' (default): animal assignments are decided at random.
** '''First player plays Hippos''': starting player gets Hippos.
** '''First player plays Crocodiles''': starting player gets Crocodiles.
* '''Difficulty''' (Option 103):
** '''Easy''' (default): valid placements are highlighted on the board.
** '''Hard''': no highlights; surrender button available when stuck.


==Game end==
==Controls on BGA==


* When an active player cannot place any of their remaining animals legally onto the board, that player loses immediately.
* '''Placement''': click a square on the board to stage your piece.
* The other player is declared the winner!
* '''Rotation''': click '''↻ Rotate''' in the status bar, press '''R''' (rotate clockwise), '''Shift+R''' (rotate counter-clockwise), or use keys '''W''', '''D''', '''S''', '''A''' to orient directly.
* '''Confirm / Cancel''': click blue '''Confirm''' to finalize, or red '''Cancel''' to clear your preview.
* '''Surrender''': in Hard mode, click red '''Surrender''' if you have no legal placements remaining.
* '''Trunk placement''': click an empty square, rotate if needed, and press '''Confirm''' (or '''Cancel''').
* '''Tooltips''': hover over the '''↻ Rotate''' button to view keyboard shortcuts.
* '''Preferences''':
** '''Colorblind support''' (Preference 100, default: Off): enables colour-blind styling.
** '''Sound effects''' (Preference 101, default: On): toggle sounds.
** '''Confirm placement''' (Preference 102, default: On): set to Off to place immediately on click without requiring Confirm.
** '''Animal colours''' (Preference 104, default: Bright): choose Bright (pink hippos, bright green crocodiles) or Natural (brown hippos, olive-green crocodiles).

Latest revision as of 13:23, 2 November 2026

Goal

Hippos & Crocodiles is a 2-player spatial abstract strategy game designed by Néstor Romeral Andrés. Players take turns placing polyomino animal pieces onto the grid. If you cannot place an animal on your turn, you lose immediately; the last player to legally place a piece wins!

Components

Component Icon Description
Hippos 8 hippo pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a 3×3 body plus 1 snout cell).
Crocodiles 8 crocodile pieces (each occupies 10 squares: a central 6-square spine with 4 legs).
Trunks Optional 3×1 wooden log obstacles that block placement.
Maps 4 distinct aquatic terrains: Square (14×14, 196 squares), Rectangle (20×10, 200 squares), Lagoon (209 squares), and Pool (208 squares).

Setup

  • One player plays the Hippos (8 pieces); the other plays the Crocodiles (8 pieces).
  • The game takes place on the chosen map (Square , Rectangle , Lagoon , or Pool ).
  • Pieces must fit entirely within the water area of the board and cannot overlap other pieces or trunks.
  • Trunks (table option): If enabled, 4 trunks (3×1 squares) are placed before any animals are played (either placed alternately by players, 2 each, or placed randomly).

Your turn

On your turn, place one of your remaining animal pieces onto the board:

  1. Choose position: Click any legal square on the board to preview your animal.
  2. Rotate orientation: Turn your piece into any of the 4 cardinal directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) by clicking ↻ Rotate in the status bar, pressing R (or Shift+R), or using keys W, D, S, A.
  3. Confirm placement: Click the blue Confirm button to lock in your move (or click red Cancel to clear your preview).

Difficulty options

  • Easy (default): All valid placement squares are highlighted on the board for the current orientation.
  • Hard: No highlights are shown. If no legal placements remain, click the red Surrender button to concede.

End of the game

  • The game ends immediately when the active player cannot legally place any of their remaining animal pieces (or clicks Surrender in Hard mode).
  • That player loses (0 points), and the opponent wins (1 point).

Variants (table options)

  • Map (Option 100):
    • Square (14×14) (default): 196 squares.
    • Rectangle (20×10): 200 squares.
    • Lagoon: 209 squares.
    • Pool: 208 squares.
    • Random: randomly selects one of the four maps.
  • Trunks (Option 101):
    • Off (default): no trunks on the board.
    • On – players place 2 each: players take turns placing 2 trunks each before animals are placed.
    • On – randomly placed: 4 trunks are placed at random during setup.
  • Animal distribution (Option 102):
    • Random (default): animal assignments are decided at random.
    • First player plays Hippos: starting player gets Hippos.
    • First player plays Crocodiles: starting player gets Crocodiles.
  • Difficulty (Option 103):
    • Easy (default): valid placements are highlighted on the board.
    • Hard: no highlights; surrender button available when stuck.

Controls on BGA

  • Placement: click a square on the board to stage your piece.
  • Rotation: click ↻ Rotate in the status bar, press R (rotate clockwise), Shift+R (rotate counter-clockwise), or use keys W, D, S, A to orient directly.
  • Confirm / Cancel: click blue Confirm to finalize, or red Cancel to clear your preview.
  • Surrender: in Hard mode, click red Surrender if you have no legal placements remaining.
  • Trunk placement: click an empty square, rotate if needed, and press Confirm (or Cancel).
  • Tooltips: hover over the ↻ Rotate button to view keyboard shortcuts.
  • Preferences:
    • Colorblind support (Preference 100, default: Off): enables colour-blind styling.
    • Sound effects (Preference 101, default: On): toggle sounds.
    • Confirm placement (Preference 102, default: On): set to Off to place immediately on click without requiring Confirm.
    • Animal colours (Preference 104, default: Bright): choose Bright (pink hippos, bright green crocodiles) or Natural (brown hippos, olive-green crocodiles).
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